Independiente return to Primera División after Huracán victory

Independiente's suffering in the second tier of Argentine football has come to an end almost exactly a year after going down, as the Avellaneda side vanquished Huracán 2-0 to regain their place in the Primera División.

Martín Zapata's goal gave Independiente a narrow half-time lead in today's promotion play-off, before substitute Francisco Pizzini made the result safe in the dying minutes of the game.

Zapata was on hand to convert from close range after Matías Pisano had spearheaded an Independiente counter-attack from the team's own half. Pisano was thwarted by Marcos Díaz in the Globo net, but Zapata was on hand to roll the ball home and give the Rojo the advantage.

Huracán piled forward in the second half, but could not find a way through a determined Independiente back-line. With four minutes of regular time left, Pizzini broke through on the counter and rounded Díaz, firing from a tight angle to send Omar de Felippe's men back to the top division.

The game, played on neutral ground in the Estadio Único in La Plata, attracted 25,000 fans from both sides after the Argentine Football Association decided to open part of the stadium for each team.